OUR BELIEFS
Redeemer Baptist Church Statement OF FAITH
Download a PDF of our Statement of Faith
Adapted from the New Hampshire Confession of Faith (1833) and the Baptist Faith and Message (2000)
OF THE SCRIPTURES
We believe that the Holy Bible (Old and New Testaments)[1] was written by divinely inspired men (Holy Spirit led) and perfectly contains all of God’s direction for our lives to His glory.[2] It has God for its author, has salvation for its purpose,[3] and is infallible (absolute truth) and inerrant (without error).[4] It reveals the principles by which God will judge us;[5] and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian unity,[6] and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tested.[7] All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.[8]
OF THE TRUE GOD
We believe that there is one true, living, and holy[9] God, the Creator and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and Earth.[10] In the unity of the Godhead, there are three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.[11] The three persons of this ‘Trinity’ are equally eternal in being and nature, equal in power and glory, and work together to accomplish the great work of redemption.[12] God alone is omnipresent (everywhere all the time), omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), omnibenevolent (perfectly good), immutable (unchanging), eternal (without beginning or end), and sovereign (supreme ruler and authority).[13] God is worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love.[14]
OF MANKIND
We believe that God created mankind in His image to bring glory to Himself.[15] Every person of every race[16] (every genetic background) and every age[17] (from conception to death) possess full dignity and are worthy of respect and Christian love.[18] Both men and women were created equally in the image of God, yet given distinctive and complementary roles within the family and Christ’s church as a part of the created order. [19] Therefore, God’s gift of gender, imparted in the womb, is part of the goodness of His creation.[20]
OF THE FALL OF MANKIND
We believe that mankind was created in holiness (without sin) under the law of his Maker[21] but voluntarily sinned and fell from his original state.[22] Because of this, all of mankind are now sinners,[23] not by constraint, but by choice.[24] Mankind is utterly void of the holiness required by the law of God and is by nature inclined to evil. Therefore, mankind is justly under condemnation to eternal ruin[25] and is without defense or excuse.[26]
OF THE WAY OF SALVATION
We believe that sinners are saved by grace alone[27] through the mediator Jesus Christ, the Son of God.[28] Conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, Christ freely took upon Himself our human nature, yet without sin.[29] Christ perfectly fulfilled the divine law by his personal obedience,[30] and by His substitutionary death on the cross, made a full atonement (payment) for our sins.[31] Having risen from the dead with a glorified body, Christ appeared to His disciples, ascended, and is now enthroned in heaven.[32] He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior, both fully God and fully man.[33] This is the gospel message.
OF THE FREENESS OF SALVATION
We believe that salvation is made free to all by the gospel,[34] and it is the immediate duty of all to accept salvation through sincere, repentant, and obedient faith.[35] Nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity (sinfulness) and voluntary rejection of the gospel[36] which leads to condemnation.[37]
OF REPENTANCE AND FAITH
We believe that God calls us to both repentance and faith through the regeneration (new birth) of the Spirit of God.[38] Convinced of our guilt and helplessness, we repent and turn to God with remorse (regret), confession of guilt, and supplication (humble plea) for mercy.[39] We accept Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King and have faith in Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior.[40]
OF ELECTION
We believe that election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which He graciously regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners.[41] It is perfectly consistent with the free agency of man.[42] Because election is a glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness,[43] it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of his free mercy.[44] Election is the foundation of a believer’s assurance of salvation.[45]
OF JUSTIFICATION
We believe that justification is the process of God making His people legally righteous before His perfect Law. This includes the pardon of sin[46] and the promise of eternal life.[47] The believer is not justified as a result of anything he has done but is justified only through faith in the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ.[48] By virtue of this faith, Christ’s perfect righteousness is freely imputed (transferred) to us by God.[49] Justification brings the believer into a relationship of peace and favor with God.[50]
OF REGENERATION
We believe that regeneration is the process by which God brings our morally dead spirits to life. In order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated.[51] Regeneration begins with God changing our hearts[52] (drawing us to Himself) through the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with the Scriptures,[53] which results in our voluntary obedience to the gospel.[54] The evidence of regeneration appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life.[55]
OF SANCTIFICATION
We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made recipients of and participants in His holiness.[56] Begun in regeneration,[57] sanctification is the life-long transformation[58] of a believer toward spiritual and moral maturity through the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit.[59]
OF THE PERSEVERANCE OF SAINTS
We believe that real believers are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.[60] While they may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, dishonor the name and cause of Christ, and receive consequences for their actions in this life, the identifying mark of real believers is the perseverance of their loving commitment to Christ unto the end.[61]
OF A GOSPEL CHURCH
We believe that the universal church consists of all of the elect who have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ the head. It is the bride, the body, and the fullness of Jesus Christ.[62]
We believe that Scripture indicates that every Christian should be a member of a local church whenever possible.[63] We believe that a local church is a congregation of baptized believers,[64] united by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel.[65] It observes the two ordinances of Christ (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper),[66] is governed by His Word,[67] exercises the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word,[68] and seeks to spread the gospel to all mankind.[69] Its only scriptural officers are Elders [70a] and Deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of elder is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.[70b]
We believe that it is the responsibility of the church (corporately) and its members (individually) to foster a deeper knowledge of God and His Word through the study of Scripture, faithfulness to its directions, and sharing its truth with others both inside and outside the church.[71] God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual, and all that we have and are we owe to Him. Therefore, the church and its members join together in unity, pray for one another and God’s Kingdom, and take pleasure in serving God and His Kingdom with their time, talents, and material resources.[72] The church and its members may cooperate with others in carrying forward missionary, educational, and benevolent ministries for the extension of His Kingdom.[73]
OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe that Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer[74] into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.[75] It is a visual declaration of faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior. It symbolizes death to sin and resurrection to new life in Christ Jesus.[76] Being a church ordinance, it is a prerequisite to the privileges of Church membership and to the Lord’s Supper.[77]
We believe that the Lord’s Supper, which Christ calls us to continually observe, commemorates the dying love of Christ through the partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine.[78] When we take the supper in faith, we are communing with Christ to our spiritual nourishment and growth in grace, have our union and communion with Him confirmed, testify and renew our thankfulness and engagement to God, and reaffirm our mutual love and fellowship with each other.[79] The Lord’s Supper is always preceded by solemn self-examination.[80]
OF THE LORD’S DAY
We believe that Sunday is the Lord’s Day.[81] It is a regularly observed Christian institution[82] and should center around both public[83] and private[84] exercises of worship and spiritual devotion.[85] Activities on the Lord’s Day should be governed by Scripture and the Christian’s conscience under the lordship of Jesus Christ.
OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
We believe that God has designed marriage to be the covenantal framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression, the means for procreation of the human race, and a lifelong union of one man and one woman, as husband and wife. This biblical marriage relationship should model the way God relates to His people and is meant to signify the covenant love between Christ and His bride, the Church.[86][87]
We believe, as God allows, that children are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible to teach their children biblical truth and values explicitly, through example, and through loving discipline.[88] Children are to honor and obey their parents.[89]
OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society.[90] The government, including its leaders, is to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed[91] except in those things where it contradicts the Bible.[92] Jesus Christ is the Lord of the conscience and the Prince of the kings of the earth.[93]
OF THE WORLD TO COME
We believe that God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its end.[94] According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth.[95] The dead will be raised.[96] Christ will judge all men in righteousness.[97] The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell and experience the fullness of God’s wrath in everlasting punishment.[98] The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever with the Lord.[99]
[1] 39 books in the Old Testament and the 27 books in the New Testament
[2] 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:21; 2 Sam. 23:2; Acts 1:16; 3:21; Luke 16:29-31; Psa. 119:11; Rom. 3:1-2
[3] 2 Tim. 3:15; 1 Pet. 1:10-12; Acts 11:14; Rom. 1:16; Mark 16:16; John 5:38-39
[4] Prov. 30:5-6; John 17:17; Rev. 22:18-19; Rom. 3:4
[5] Rom. 2:12; John 12:47-48; 1 Cor. 4:3-4; Luke 10:10-16; 12:47-48
[6] Eph. 4:3-6; Phil. 2:1-2; 1 Cor. 1:10; 1 Pet. 4:11; Phil. 3:16
[7] 1 John 4:1; Isa. 8:20; 1 Thess. 5:21; Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:6; Eph. 6:17; Psa. 119:59-60; Phil. 1:9-11; Jude 3-5
[8] Luke 24:27; John 1:1-4; John 1:45; Luke 24:44; Luke 9:29-32; Acts 28:23; John 5:39
[9] Exod. 15:11; Isa. 6:3; 1 Pet. 1:15-16; Rev. 4:6-8
[10] Psa. 147:5; 83:18; Heb. 3:4; Rom. 1:20; Jer. 10:10
[11] Matt. 28:19; John 15:26; 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 Cor. 12:4-6
[12] Eph. 2:18; 2 Cor. 13:14; Rev. 1:4-5, John 10:30; 5:17; 14:23; 17:5, 10; 1 Cor. 2:10-11; Phil. 2:5-6; Acts 5:3-4
[13] Ps. 139:1-16; Ps. 33:13-14; Ps. 14:2;
[14] Mark 12:30; Rev. 4:11; Matt. 10:37; Jer. 2:12-13
[15] Gen. 1:26-27; Isa. 43:7; Psa. 86:9; 1 Cor. 10:31
[16] Acts 10:34-35; Rev. 7:9; Gal. 3:28
[17] Psa. 139:13-16; Prov. 17:6; Isa. 46:3-4
[18] 1 Pet. 2:17; Gal. 5:14; Rom. 12:10
[19] Gen. 2:18, 22-24; Eph. 5:22-25; 1 Cor. 11:3; 1 Pet. 3:1-2, 7; Titus 2:3-5
[20] Psa. 139:13-14; Gen 1:26-27, 31
[21] Gen. 1:27, 31; Eccl. 7:29; Gen. 2:16
[22] Gen. 3:6-24; Rom. 5:12
[23] Rom. 5:19; Rom 8:7; Psa. 51:5; Rom. 5:15-19; John 3:6
[24] Isa. 53:6; Gen. 6:12; Rom. 3:9-18
[25] Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 1:18, 32; 2:1-16; Gal. 3:10; Rev 20:15
[26] Rom. 1:20; 3:19; Ezek. 18:19-20
[27] Eph. 2:5; Acts 15:11; 1 John 4:10; Rom. 3:24
[28] John 3:16; 1:1-14; Heb. 4:14; 12:24
[29] Phil. 2:6-7; Heb. 2:9, 14; 2 Cor. 5:21
[30] Phil. 2:8; Gal. 4:4-5
[31] Isa. 53:4-5; Matt. 20:28; Rom. 4:25; 3:21-26; 1 John 4:10; 2:2; 1 Cor. 15:1-3; Heb. 9:13-15
[32] Col. 3:1-4; Heb. 1:8, 3; 8:1
[33] Heb. 7:25-26; Col. 2:9; Heb. 2:18
[34] Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17; Luke 14:17
[35] Rom. 1:15-17; 16:26; Mark 1:15
[36] John 5:40; Matt. 23:37; Rom. 9:32; Prov. 1:24; Acts 13:46
[37] 2 Thess. 1:8; Luke 19:27; John 3:18-19; Matt. 11:20
[38] Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; Eph. 2:8; 1 John 5:1; Titus 3:5-6
[39] John 16:8-9; Acts 2:37-38; Luke 18:13; 15:18-21; James 4:7-10; 2 Cor. 7:9-11; Rom.10:12-13; Psa. 51
[40] Rom. 10:9-11; Acts 3:22-23: Heb. 4:14; Psa. 2:6; Heb. 1:8; 8:1-2; 2 Tim. 1:12
[41] 2 Tim. 1:8-9; Eph. 1:3-14; 1 Pet. 1:1-2; Rom. 11:5-6; John 15:15; 1 John 4:19
[42] John 1:12; 6:66-70; Acts 13:46-48
[43] Exod. 33:18-19; Rom. 9:23-24; Eph. 1:11-14; Jer. 31:3; Rom. 11:28-29; James 1:17-18; 2 Tim. 1:9; Rom. 11:32-36
[44] 1 Cor. 4:6-7; 1:26-31; Rom. 3:27; Col. 3:12; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; 15:10; 1 Pet. 5:6-10; 1 Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 2:9; John 15:16; 1 Thess. 2:12
[45] Rom. 8:28-30; Isa. 42:16; Rom. 11:29
[46] Rom. 5:9; Acts 10:43; Matt. 9:6; Zech. 13:1
[47] Rom. 5:17; Titus 3:5-7; 1 John 2:25; Rom. 5:21
[48] Rom. 4:4-5; 6:23; Phil. 3:7-9
[49] Rom. 5:19; 3:24-26; 4:23-25; 1 John 2:12
[50] Rom. 5:1-3; Col. 1:19-20; Matt. 6:33
[51] John 3:3, 6-7; 1 Cor. 2:14; Rev. 21:27
[52] 2 Cor. 5:17; Ezek. 36:26; Deut. 30:6; Rom. 2:28-29; 5:5; 1 John 4:7
[53] John 3:8; 1:12-13; James 1:16-18; 1 Cor. 1:30; Phil. 2:13
[54] 1 Pet. 1:22-25; 1 John 5:1; Eph. 4:20-24; Col. 3:9-11
[55] Eph. 5:9; Rom. 8:9; Gal. 5:16-23; Eph. 3:14-21; Matt. 3:8-10; 7:20; 1 John 5:4, 18
[56] 1 Thess. 4:3; 5:23; 2 Cor. 7:1; 13:9; Eph. 1:4
[57] John 2:29; Rom. 8:5; John 3:6; Phil. 1:9-11; Eph. 1:13-14
[58] Prov. 4:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Heb. 6:1; 2 Pet. 1:5-8; Phil. 3:12-16
[59] Phil. 2:12-13; Eph. 4:11-12; 1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:18; 2 Cor. 13:5; Luke 11:35; 9:23; Matt. 26:41; Eph. 6:18; 4:30
[60] Phil. 1:6; 2:12-13; Jude 24-25; Heb. 1:14; 2 Kings 6:16; Heb. 13:5; 1 John 4:4
[61] 1 John 2:19, 2:27-28; 3:9; 5:18; Matt. 13:20-23; John 6:66-69, 8:31, 13:18
[62] 1 Cor. 1:2; Matt. 16:15-16; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11; 5:22-32
[63] Matt. 16:18-19, 18:15-20; John 17:21, 23; Heb. 13:17; 1 Thess. 5:12-13
[64] 1 Cor. 1:1-13; Acts 2:41-42; 1 Cor. 4:17
[65] 2 Cor. 8:5; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 5:12-13
[66] 1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thess. 3:6; 1 Cor. 11:23; 1 Cor. 4:17; all footnotes for Baptism and the Lord’s Supper section
[67] Matt. 28:20; John 14:15; 15:12; 1 John 4:21; John 14:21; 1 Thess. 4.2; 2 John 6; Gal. 6:2; Rom. 16:17-20; all the Epistles
[68] Eph. 4:7; 1 Cor. 14:12; Phil. 1:27; 1 Cor. 12:14; Matt. 18:15-20;
[69] Matt. 28:19-20, Luke 24:47, John 20:21, Acts 1:8
[70] a) In scripture, the office of Elder may be labeled as Bishop, Overseer, or Pastor.
b) Phil. 1:1; Acts 14:23; 15:22; 1 Tim. 3; Titus 1
[71] Titus 2:2-12; Jude 1:3; 1 Pet. 3:15; 2 Tim. 3:16-17, 4:2; Phil. 1:16
[72] Gen. 14:20; Lev. 27:30-32; Deut. 8:18; Mal. 3:8-12; Matt. 6:1-4,19-21
[73] Ezra 1:3-4; 2:68-69; 5:14-15; Matt. 10:5-15; 28:19-20; Mark 2:3; Luke 10:1-12; Acts 2:1-13; 4:31-37; 1 Cor. 1:10-17; 12:12-31; 2 Cor. 8-9; Eph. 4:1-16
[74] Acts 8:36-39; Matt. 3:5-6; John 3:22-23; 4:1-2; Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:12; 16:32-34; 18:8
[75] Matt. 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Gal. 3:27-28
[76] Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:20-21; Acts 22:16
[77] Acts 2:41-42; Matt. 28:19-20
[78] 1 Cor. 11:26; Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20
[79] Matt. 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:26
[80] 1 Cor. 11:28; 5:1, 8; 10:3-32; 11:17-32; John 6:26-71
[81] Acts 20:7; Gen. 2:3; Col. 2:16-17; Mark 2:27; John 20:19; 1 Cor. 16:1- 2
[82] Exod. 20:8; Rev. 1:10; Psa. 118:24
[83] Heb. 10:24-25; Acts 11:26; 13:44; Lev. 19:30; Exod. 46:3; Luke 4:16; Acts 17:2, 3; Psa. 26:8; 87:3
[84] Psa. 119:15
[85] Isa. 58:13-14; 56:2-8; Heb. 4:3-11
[86] Quoted from Nashville Statement on Biblical Sexuality
[87] Gen. 1:26-28; 2:15-25; Eph. 5:21-33; Col. 3:18-21; Prov. 5:15-20; 12:4; 18:22; 31:10-31; Ecc. 4:9-12; 9:9; Mal. 2:14-16; Mark 10:6-12; 1 Cor. 7:1-16; Heb. 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7
[88] Ps. 78:1-8; 127; 139:13-16; Prov. 13:24; 17:6; 22:6; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29: 15, 17; Eph. 6:4; Titus 2:3-5
[89] Ex. 20:12; Eph. 6:1-3; Deut. 6:4-7; Prov. 1:8; 6:20-22; Eph. 6:1-3
[90] Rom. 13:1-7; Deut. 16:18; 1 Sam. 23:3; Exod. 18:23; Jer.30:21
[91] Matt. 22:21; Titus 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:13; 1 Tim. 2:1-8
[92] Acts 5:29; Matt. 10:28; Dan. 3:15-18; 6:7-10; Acts 4:18-20
[93] Matt. 23:10; Rom. 14:4; Rev. 19:16; Psa. 72:11; Psa. 2; Rom. 14:9-13
[94] 1 Pet. 4:7; 1 Cor. 7:29-31; Heb. 1:10-12; Matt. 24:35; 1 John 2:17; Matt. 28:20; 13:39-40; 2 Pet. 3:3-13
[95] Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7; Heb. 9:28; Acts 3:21; 1 Thess. 4:13-18;5:1-11
[96] Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:12-59; Luke 14:14; Dan. 12:2; John 5:28-29; 6:40; 11:25-26; 2 Tim. 1:10; Acts 10:42
[97] Matt. 13:49, 37-43; 24:30-31; 25:31-33
[98] Matt. 25:35-41; Rev. 22:11; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Mark 9:43-48; 2 Pet. 2:9; Jude 7; Phil. 3:19; Rom. 6:32; 2 Cor. 5:10-11; John 4:36
[99] Rom. 3:5-6; 2 Thess. 1:6-12; Heb. 6:1-2; 1 Cor. 4:5; Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:2-16; Rev. 20:11-12; 1 John 2:28; 4:17